• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.673-693
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• 2013

This paper presents a systematic design and training procedure for the feed-forward back-propagation neural network (NN) modeling of both forward and inverse behavior of a rotary magnetorheological (MR) damper based on experimental data. For the forward damper model, with damper force as output, an optimization procedure demonstrates accurate training of the NN architecture with only current and velocity as input states. For the inverse damper model, with current as output, the absolute value of velocity and force are used as input states to avoid negative current spikes when tracking a desired damper force. The forward and inverse damper models are trained and validated experimentally, combining a limited number of harmonic displacement records, and constant and half-sinusoidal current records. In general the validation shows accurate results for both forward and inverse damper models, where the observed modeling errors for the inverse model can be related to knocking effects in the measured force due to the bearing plays between hydraulic piston and MR damper rod. Finally, the validated models are used to emulate pure viscous damping. Comparison of numerical and experimental results demonstrates good agreement in the post-yield region of the MR damper, while the main error of the inverse NN occurs in the pre-yield region where the inverse NN overestimates the current to track the desired viscous force.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.155-171
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• 2017

This paper presents a proposed method for producing reinforced composite concrete columns reinforced with various types of metallic and non metallic mesh reinforcement. The experimental program includes casting and testing of twelve square columns having the dimensions of $100mm{\times}100mm{\times}1000mm$ under concentric compression loadings. The test samples comprise all designation specimens to make comparative study between conventionally reinforced concrete column and concrete columns reinforced with welded steel mesh, expanded steel mesh, fiber glass mesh and tensar mesh. The main variables are the type of innovative reinforcing materials, metallic or non metallic, the number of layers and volume fraction of reinforcement. The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of employing the new innovative materials in reinforcing the composite concrete columns. The results of an experimental investigation to examine the effectiveness of these produced columns are reported and discussed including strength, deformation, cracking, and ductility properties. Non-linear finite element analysis; (NLFEA) was carried out to simulate the behavior of the reinforced concrete composite columns. The numerical model could agree the behavior level of the test results. ANSYS-10.0 Software. Also, parametric study is presented to look at the variables that can mainly affect the mechanical behaviors of the model such as the change of column dimensions. The results proved that new reinforced concrete columns can be developed with high strength, crack resistance, and high ductility properties using the innovative composite materials.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2018

Several techniques have been developed for shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) members by using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. However, debonding of FRP retrofits from concrete substrate still deemed as a challenging concern in their application which needs to be scrutinized in details. As a result, this paper reports on the results of an experimental investigation on shear strengthening of RC beams using near surface mounted (NSM) FRP reinforcing bars. The main objective of the experimentation was increasing the efficiency of shear retrofits by precluding/postponing the premature debonding failure. The experimental program was comprised of six shear deficient RC beams. The test parameters include the FRP rebar spacing, inclination angle, and groove shape. Also, an innovative modification was introduced to the conventional NSM technique and its efficiency was evaluated by experimental observation and measurement. The results testified the efficiency of glass FRP (GFRP) rebars in increasing the shear strength of the test specimens retrofitted using conventional NSM technique. However, debonding of FRP bars impeded exploiting all retrofitting advantages and induced a premature shear failure. On the contrary, application of the proposed modified NSM (MNSM) technique was not only capable of preventing the premature debonding of FRP bars, but also could replace the failure mode of specimen from the brittle shear to a ductile flexural failure which is more desirable.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.419-432
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• 2006

Experimental studies on the behaviors of box-shape steel reinforced concrete (SRC) composite beams were conducted. Seven 1:3 scale model composite beams were tested to failure. Each of the beams was simply supported at the ends and two concentrated loads were applied at the one-third span and two-thirds span respectively. Experimental results indicate that the flexural strength can be enhanced when the ratio of flexural reinforcements and flange thickness of the shape steel are increased; the shear strength is enhanced with increase of web thickness of the shape steel. Insignificant effects of concrete in the box-shape steel are found on improving the flexural strength and shear strength of the box-shape SRC composite beams, thus concrete inside the box-shape steel can be saved, and the weight of the SRC beams can be decreased. Shear studs can strengthen the connection and co-work effects between the shape steel and the concrete and enhance the shear strength, but stud design for the composite beams should be further improved. Formulas for flexural and shear strength of the composite beams are proposed, and the calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results. In general, the box-shape SRC composite beam is a kind of ductile member, and suitable for extensive engineering application.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 2011

The strengthening and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates has shown excellent performance and, as a result, this technology is rapidly replacing steel plate bonding techniques. This paper addresses this issue, and presents results deals with the influence of external bonded CFRP-reinforcement on the time-dependent behavior of reinforced concrete beams. A total of eight reinforced concrete beams with cracked and un-cracked section, with and without externally bonded CFRP laminates, were investigated for their creep and shrinkage behavior. All the beams considered in this paper were simply supported and subjected to a uniform sustained loading for the period of six months. The main parameters of this study are two types of sustained load and different degrees of strengthening scheme for both cracked and un-cracked sections of beams. Both analytical and experimental work has been carried out on strengthened beams to investigate the cracking and deflection performance. The applied sustained load was 56% and 38% of the ultimate static capacities of the un-strengthened beams for cracked and un-cracked section respectively. The analytical values based on effective modulus method (EMM) are compared to the experimental results and it is found that the analytical values are in general give conservative estimates of the experimental results. It was concluded that the attachment of CFRP composite laminates has a positive influence on the long term performance of strengthened beams.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.207-221
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• 2011

This paper aims to study the behavior of short reinforced concrete columns confined with external glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) sheets under eccentric loads. The experimental part of the study was achieved by testing 9 specimens under eccentric compression. Three eccentricity ratios corresponding to e/t = 0, 0.10, 0.50 in one direction of the column were used. Specimens were divided into three groups. The first group was the control one without confinement. The second group was fully wrapped with GFRP laminates before loading. The third group was wrapped under loading after reaching 75% of failure loads of the control specimens. The third group was investigated in order to represent the practical case of strengthening a loaded column with FRP laminates. All specimens were loaded until failure. The results show that GFRP laminates enhances both failure load and ductility response of eccentrically loaded column. Moreover, the study also illustrates the effect of confinement on the first crack load, lateral deformation, strain in reinforcement and failure pattern. Based on the analysis of the experimental results, a simple model has been proposed to predict the improvement of load carrying capacity under different eccentricity ratios. The predicted equation takes into consideration the eccentricity to cross section depth ratio, the ultimate strength of GFRP, the thickness of wrapping laminate, and the time of wrapping (before loading and under loading). A good correlation was obtained between experimental and analytical results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.753-762
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• 2012

The ratcheting characteristics of cylindrical shell under cyclic axial loading are investigated. The specimens are subjected to stress-controlled cycling with non-zero mean stress, which causes the accumulation of plastic strain or ratcheting behavior in continuous cycles. Also, cylindrical shell shows softening behavior under symmetric axial strain-controlled loading and due to the localized buckling, which occurs in the compressive stress-strain curve of the shell; it has more residual plastic strain in comparison to the tensile stress-strain hysteresis curve. The numerical analysis was carried out by ABAQUS software using hardening models. The nonlinear isotropic/kinematic hardening model accurately simulates the ratcheting behavior of shell. Although hardening models are incapable of simulating the softening behavior of the shell, this model analyzes the softening behavior well. Moreover, the model calculates the residual plastic strain close to the experimental data. Experimental tests were performed using an INSTRON 8802 servo-hydraulic machine. Simulations show good agreement between numerical and experimental results. The results reveal that the rate of plastic strain accumulation increases for the first few cycles and then reduces in the subsequent cycles. This reduction is more rapid for numerical results in comparison to experiments.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.1245-1266
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• 2015

In this research, the cylindrical absorber made of expanded metal sheets under impact loading has been examined. Expanded metal sheets due to their low weight, effective collapse mechanism has a high energy absorption capacity. Two types of absorbers with different cells angle were examined. First, the absorber with cell angle ${\alpha}=0$ and then the absorber with angle cell ${\alpha}=90$. Experimental Study is done by drop Hammer device and numerical investigation is done by finite element of ABAQUS software. The output of device is acceleration-time Diagram which is shown by Accelerometer that is located on the picky mass. Also the output of ABAQUS software is shown by force-displacement diagram. In this research, the numerical and experimental study of the collapse type, force-displacement diagrams and effective parameters has been investigated. Similarly, the comparison between numerical and experimental results has been observed that these results are matched well with each other. From the obtained results it was observed that the absorber with cell angle ${\alpha}=0$, have symmetric collapse and had high energy absorption capacity but the absorber with cell angle ${\alpha}=90$, had global buckling and the energy absorption value was not suitable.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1037-1053
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• 2015

This paper presents finite element (FE) based pushover analysis of a reinforced concrete structure with a two-leaf cavity wall (TLCW) to estimate the performance level of this structure. In addition to this, an unreinforced masonry (URM) model was selected for comparison. Simulations and analyses of these structures were performed using the DIANA FE program. The mentioned structures were selected as two storeys and two bays. The dimensions of the structures were scaled 1:1.5 according to the Cauchy Froude similitude law. A shake table experiment was implemented on the reinforced concrete structure with the two-leaf cavity wall (TLCW) at the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC) in Lisbon, Portugal. The model that simulates URM was not experimentally studied. This structure was modelled in the same manner as the TLCW. The purpose of this virtual model is to compare the respective performances. Two nonlinear analyses were performed and compared with the experimental test results. These analyses were carried out in two phases. The research addresses first the analysis of a structure with only reinforced concrete elements, and secondly the analysis of the same structure with reinforced concrete elements and infill walls. Both researches consider static loading and pushover analysis. The experimental pushover curve was plotted by the envelope of the experimental curve obtained on the basis of the shake table records. Crack patterns, failure modes and performance curves were plotted for both models. Finally, results were evaluated on the basis of the current regulation ASCE/SEI 41-06.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.785-808
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• 2016

An innovative Reduced Beam Section (RBS) connection, called Tubular Web RBS connection (TW-RBS), has been recently introduced and its performance has been numerically investigated in some earlier studies. The TW-RBS connection is a kind of accordion-web RBS connection in which part of the flat web of the beam is replaced by a steel tube at the expected region of the plastic hinge. This paper presents experimental results of three TW-RBS connections under cyclic loading. Obtained results indicated that TW-RBS reduces contribution of the beam web to the whole moment strength and creates a ductile fuse far from components of the beam-to-column connection. Besides, TW-RBS connection can increase story drift capacity up to 9% in the case of shallow beams which is much more than those stipulated by the current seismic codes. Based on the experimental results, the tubular web in the plastic hinge region improves lateral-torsional buckling stability of the beam such that only local buckling of the beam flange at the center of the reduced section was observed during the tests. In order to achieve a better understanding, behavior of all TW-RBS specimens are also numerically investigated and compared with those of experimental results.